Pakistan suffered 'tremendously', has right to defend itself from terrorism: US

Pakistan has the right to defend itself from terrorism, the US has said, adding that Islamabad has suffered "tremendously from terrorist attacks".

During a press briefing, US State Department's Spokesman Ned Price was asked a question related to a Pakistani National Security Committee (NSC) meeting in which it resolved to take strict action against terrorists and also recommended taking crucial steps to curb rising unrest in the country.

"We’re aware of the recent statement by NSC. The Pakistani people have suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks. Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism," Price said.

Meanwhile, Price called on the Taliban to uphold their commitment to ensure Afghan soil is never again used as a launchpad for international terrorist attacks.

"These are among the very commitments that the Taliban have been unable or unwilling to fulfill to date," he said.

NSC meeting

Pakistan has been witnessing an increase in terror activities since the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) said they had called off the shaky ceasefire agreed with the government and ordered fighters to stage attacks across the country.

On December 18, more than 30 members of the TTP held several officers hostage, after breaking free from custody and seizing a police station in Bannu, KPK, officials said.

The militants overpowered their jailers and snatched weapons.

The NSC on Monday was apprised on the security situation of the country with a particular focus on recent terrorist incidents in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

The forum concluded that no country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserves all rights in that respect to safeguard her people.

The NSC reiterated its resolve to have zero tolerance for terrorism in Pakistan and reaffirmed its determination to take on any and all entities that resort to violence, according to a statement of the PM House issued after the meeting.

“The forum concluded that no country will be allowed to provide sanctuaries and facilitation to terrorists and Pakistan reserves all rights in that respect to safeguard her people,” said the statement in an apparent warning to the Afghan interim government without naming it.

Taliban govt issued stern warning

Afghanistan responds

Meanwhile, in a presser, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah stated that Pakistan may target the TTP militants in Afghanistan “if authorities in Kabul did not take any action against them”.

“The Ministry of National Defence, considers as provocative and baseless, (the) recent speeches of the Pakistani interior minister about the presence of TTP in Afghanistan and their possible attack inside Afghanistan. It damages the good relations between the two neighbouring and brotherly countries with such claims by Pakistani officials despite the existence of evidence indicating that the TTP centres are inside Pakistan. We request that any concerns and problems should be resolved through understanding,” the Afghan Defence Ministry said in a statement on Sunday.

“Afghanistan is not without its masters, as always, we are ready to defend the territorial integrity and independence of our homeland, and it is mentionable we have a better experience than anyone in defending and protecting our country,” the Afghan Defence Ministry further stated in response to Interior Minister Sanaullah’s statement.